The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-04-22
WILD MAN OF THE WOODS.
The Sad History of Old Abiel Williams,
of Reynhan.
FroNl "a BosLon Hefalfl

MIDDLEBORO, MASS, April l1.--JuSt over
the Bristol county line, between Middleboro
and Taunton, or to be more definite, between
Squambetty and Tarryal villages, from
time to time for years past, strangers, riding
or walking along the Raynham road have
been seen to suddenly emerge from the long,
lonely roadway, thick studded with over
hanging pines and oaks, driving frantically
or wildly running, with faces white with
terror, and ever and anon turning to see if
some unseen, but evidently most formidable
foe, whom they had met in the forest, was
still in pursuit
Residents in the vicinity understand such
cases at sight, and know how to treat them,
having had experience in similar cases of
fright from passers-by in the Raynham
woods during many years. The customary
greeting a stranger receives who is seen
fleeing from this forest road with all the
terrors that death is in pursuit is as follows:
"Oh, we know what is the matter. Don't
man of the woods. We knew as soon as we
sawyou coming down the road"
A peddfer- who was recently driving along
this lonely road gives this account of the
strangest sight, he says, he ever saw:
ut was pleasant day and seated on my
cart [ was jogging along slowly, little
dreaming OF anything unusual to happen.
For a mile or more there is not Single
house, and the roadway is little better than
a narrow cart path a portion of the way. |
had got about the middle of the woods,
when all at once the horse stopped, snorted,
reared, and looked up
''At the edge of the road, near the low
fence, saw sight that scared me about
out OF my senses | never was SO badly
scared before or since At first glance the
object appeared to be wild, unnatural
looking animal standing on its hind legs,
but looking closer it seemed, all the more
horrible to me, to be q kind of half man,
half beast.
THE head was small, with a dried,
pinched-up, apish-looking face with q
fierce, rolling, eye, and long. shaggy name
Of snow-white hair. a short, white cotton
cloth seemed to be loosely thrown around
the waist of the body, and the whole body
with this exception, was exposed. The Skin
was dark-brown, resembling sole leather as
much as anything in appearance.
Il was struck motionless for a few min
HteS at the wild sight, but the horse started
off directly on run, seeming as scared as |
was. | got strength enough together to
urge the horse on, and we were soon out of
the woods and driving into a dooryard,
where the folks told me what it was that
scared me So and relieved my agony. For
| did think had struck
THE OLD BOY HIMSELF FOR AWHILE"
The wild man of the Raynham woods,
that has frightened many others, as he did
this peddler, but never harmed Them and is
still the terror of children and timid women
is harmless insane person who is allowed
to roam the woods without restriction, moro
to his own great danger of being shot by
sportsmen in mistake for an unknown wild
beast than to the danger of any who may
chance to meet him, as he has never been
known to harm any one In fact, he has
harmed himself when attempts have been
made to keep him confined, and so he is al
lowed to roam.
The wild man of the woods is an object
more of pity than of idle curiosity, and his
condition is seldom spoken of in other than
in words of respect for the mind that once,
long years ago, before sorrow and grief
drove him to insanity, shone Respondent
where now nothing remains but a wrecked
intellect Idle children and thoughtless
strangers sometimes annoy this curious
creature that knows scarcely enough now
to resent when it is encrOached upon.
He lives in a sand hut adjoining the house
where relatives reside, who look to his needs
so far as they are able, performing these
duties year after year without complaint,
and ministering to their afflicted brother
with all patience and fortitude. He lives
much in the open air, having a fondness
for pure air, the woods, and close communion
with mother earth itself.
AT times he will speak words of partial in
telligence, but quickly goes off into an I'M
meaning and grotesque babble, and his ap-
pearance and conduct would make him a
leading curiosity in a curio hall, but his rela-
tives are people of means. No stranger can
obtain glimpse of him if his friends can in
any way prevent, and, after long expert
ence with such, they have succeeded in
usually preventing such an occurrence.
The wild man OF the woods cannot or will
not look person in the eye. 1t is imposSi-
BILE to. catch his eye, his relatives say in
speaking of his peculiar habits Sometimes
in brief moment of partial rationalism, he
has taken a mirror and after looking at
the reflection in the glass, has asked what is
the matter with his eye.
The history of the wild man Of the woods
is a most interesting one, and is at the
tongues end of almost any resident when
pressed to relate it.
Abel Williams, of Raynham, 60 years
ago, was young man of more than ordi-
nary promise. A bright good-natured
youth, studiOus and energetic, with an am
bition that was abnormal. Son of well-to-
do and doting parents, he was helped along
by their aid to young manhood in lines that
were pleasant.
When he resolved to become professional
man, and with all his young ardor entered
into the preparations for collegiate course
of study and training in a medical school,
he was bid godspeed in his lofty undertaking
and firm resolve to become a light in that
profession. He
ENTERED UNION COLLEGE,
Schenectady, n. Y, and, studying night
and day, graduated in 1880 with high hon
ors. hate -f4,, .N -r
Returning home to Raynham, he con-
cluded to commence business in Taunton,
and accordingly opened an Office in that
place Patients were Slow to apply to the
young physician tef Treatment, and it was
some time before he had a case that promised
to test his skill asa prTctitioneT.
1t came at bast fiSrrthe form Of a severe
case of scarlet fever. Two little children,
cousins Of the handsome young doctor, were
taken suddenly i'll of the dread disease and
the new doctor was called ilsto 1eat for the
children. All eyes that hh Matched the
career of the young man were now upon
him, and he entered with all his might into
the task Of curing his sick little COUSINS and
winning his spurs as physician at his home
The children grew rapidly worse. The
young doctors efforts seemed of no avail
For hours the children hung between life
and death. He did his utmost and in de-
spair said that if be could not save them il
would turn his brain The little lives went
but finally, and the young doctors first
attempt 10 save his own kin had proved
fruitess
A fatv ,vonl-e affaf +ha Ii+tla .ouc;,,e ,,.o,.o